Satellite Communications for
Disaster Preparedness, Early
Warning and Response
Kelly O’Keefe
Access Partnership – for Iridium
Overview
• Why Satellite ?
• About Iridium
• Lessons Learned
• Multi-stakeholder Collaboration
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Sequence of Events
Multiple solutions required due to
shifting needs
Disaster
Preparedness
Disaster Warning
Rebuild
Evacuation
Disaster Strikes
Cleanup
First Responders
Search & Rescue
Reinforcements
Arrive
Disaster Assessment
Satellite Communications are…
• Highly survivable (physical survivability and robustness).
• Independent of terrestrial infrastructure.
• Able to provide load sharing and surge capacity solutions
for larger sites.
• Best for redundancy – then add a layer of path diversity
and link availability.
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Benefits of using satellite…
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Ubiquitous coverage
Instant Infrastructure
Independent of terrestrial infrastructure
Temporary network solutions
Rapid provisioning of services
Capabilities:
• Fixed-to-Fixed
• Mobile-to-Mobile
• Fixed-to-Mobile
• Point-to-Multipoint
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Solutions…
Video/Data
FSS:
• Broadband Connectivity
• Network Restoration
• Communications on the Move
Voice/Data
MSS:
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Mobile Telephony
Push-to-Talk Radio
Emergency Response Coordination
Dispatch Coordination
Messaging
Asset Tracking
Data Transfer
Lone Worker Protection
Environmental Monitoring
Event Reporting
Iridium - Introduction
• Iridium: a Satellite-based Personal Communication Services
(SPCS) system
• Operating since 1999, currently over 500,000 customers
• Only communications network to cover 100% of the earth including the poles
• Provides reliable communication links where landline or
mobile phone connections are unavailable, unreliable or
overburdened – including during disaster situations
• Markets include emergency services, maritime, aviation,, oil
and gas exploration, forestry, mining, journalism ...
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Satellite Constellation Today
• Unique fully-meshed network of 66 satellites with in orbit
spares
• Communication from anywhere to
anywhere on the planet
• Independent of terrestrial
infrastructure
• Cross-linked architecture provides
redundancy and very high reliability
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Summary of Today’s Network
Intersatellite Crosslink
Satellites
Aircraft users
Subscriber
(Service) Links
Feeder Links
Handheld
users
Iridium Gateway
Terrestrial Phone &
Data Network
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Maritime
users
Iridium NEXT – Next Generation
• Bold vision for a second-generation satellite constellation
• Anticipated to begin launching in 2015 – will maintain existing 66
satellite architecture
• Expand and enhance Iridium's unique capabilities: more power,
higher data speeds, IP technology, full backward compatibility
• Expand services on land, at sea, and in the skies
Global voice and data connectivity with increased speeds
Machine-to-Machine (M2M) applications including asset tracking and
remote monitoring
• Unmatched coverage means access to remote and rural areas
Networks delivers wireless broadband to hard-to-reach areas
Supports services in developing countries
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Iridium System - Devices
Satellite Handheld
Phone
• Works anywhere in the world
• Just like dialing a GSM phone
Proprietary and Confidential
Shipboard/Rig/Fixed
Equipment
• Easy to install
• No moving parts
• Supports prepaid calling
Government
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Environmental monitoring
Pipeline monitoring
Distress and alarm
GPS compatible
Asset tracking
Iridium Disaster Communications Applications
• Disaster Early Warning
• Situational awareness
• Damage assessment reporting
• Managing deployed resources
• Relief supply logistics support
• Supply movement tracking and redirection
• Coordination of search and rescue efforts
• Injury/death reporting
• Request for medical team support
• Coordination of evacuations
• Facilitating communications between first responders / relief workers
and survivors and family members
Introducing Iridium Extreme
• Iridium’s latest mobile satellite handset
Certified as the toughest MSS handset available
GPS-enabled for location-based services
Programmable SOS button
Enhanced messaging features
Open development platform for location-based services
Launched September 2011
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Iridium Extreme – Location Based Services
More than just a point on the
map.
Locating your critical
human resources on a map is
just the beginning
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Programmable SOS Button
Emergencies can occur quickly
So the Extreme was equipped
with a single button that will send
an email and make a phone call to
a designated emergency response
center.
The SOS function is compliant
with RTCM SEND specifications
And, in the event of an
emergency…
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Location Based Services +SOS
The Iridium Extreme is a critical
tool for managing deployed
resources in a crisis
An SOS is triggered by a user,
Routed to emergency
responders,
Presented via web portal,
Allowing for rapid evaluation
and a coordinated response.
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SOS
1610z
57°09′09
″N
2°06′36″
W
Historical Usage of Iridium for
Disaster Recovery
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Taiwan Earthquake (1999)
South Pole rescue (2001)
September 11 (2001)
Asian Tsunami (2004)
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita(2005)
Pakistani Earthquake (2005)
Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike (2008)
Haiti and Chilean Earthquakes (2010)
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill (2010)
Japanese Tsunami (2011)
Disaster Communications – Lessons
Learned
Lessons learned from previous disasters has led to Iridium to
take the following advance measures:
• Maintaining stock of equipment for emergencies
• Working with distribution partners to ensure supply chain
continuity and facilitate rapid deployment
• Equipping phones with solar panels for charging in situations
where the electrical grid is damaged
• Promoting pre-positioning of phones for preparedness
• Test your satellite phone week
Lessons Learned
Governments should be prepared by:
• Pre-positioning emergency equipment and solutions
• Developing alerting and early warning systems
• Training
• Maintaining Equipment
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Iridium Global Disaster Communications Activities
• ITU Cooperation Agreement – 66 satellite phones; deployed to
disaster sites.
• Leadership of ITU-D Rapporteur Group on Disaster
Communications and participation in ITU-R and regional
(CITEL) studies on disaster communications
• Membership on FCC Communications Security, Reliability and
Interoperability Council's (CSRIC) and State Department
International Disaster Response Subcommittee of the Advisory
Committee on International Communications and Information
Policy (ACICIP)
Proprietary and Confidential
U.S. State Department Sub-Committee
• Formed in 2010 following the response to the earthquake in Haiti
• Reports to the Advisory Committee on International
Communications and Information Policy in an advisory capacity
regarding issues related to the information and communications
technology (ICT) aspects of U.S. international disaster response.
• Comprised of manufacturers, service providers, NGOs, trade
associations – all involved in ICT aspects of disaster response
• In November 2011, provided recommendations to the U.S.
Government on actions to facilitate enhanced public and private
sector international ICT responses
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Common Themes Identified
• Information
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What is the condition of the network?
What critical infrastructure has been affected?
What are the priorities for restoration?
What resources or equipment is needed?
What in-country expertise exists?
• Contacts
• In government agencies, affected countries, NGOs, private sector
companies, service providers, suppliers, industry associations, etc.
• Relationships
• Collaboration
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Committee Recommendations
Recommendations to Enhance ICT Aspects of U.S. International
Disaster Response:
1. Foster Global Disaster Preparedness and help to reduce barriers
often faced by private, public, and NGO ICT providers
2. Increase recognition of ICTs as critical infrastructure for
international disaster preparedness and response
3. Improve coordination and expedite engagement between host
country response leads and public, private and NGO ICT providers
4. Improve communication and information flows
http://www.state.gov/e/eb/adcom/acicip/disasterresponse/index.htm
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ITU-D Question 22/2
2007-2010 Study cycle
Three reports already published:
• “Guidelines for Implementation of Satellite Telecommunications for
Disaster Management in Developing Countries” (2009)
• “Guidelines for using a content standard for alerts and notifications
in disasters and emergency situations” (2008) regarding
implementation of ITU-T Recommendation X.1303 on the Common
Alerting Protocol (CAP)
• “Report on use of remote sensing for disaster prediction, detection
and mitigation” (2008)
Question 22-1/2
2010-2014 Study Cycle
• Examination of telecommunications/ICTs to assist countries in
utilizing applications for preparedness and response
• Best Practices/Guidelines on Implementation of ICTs for disaster
prediction, response, relief and recovery
• Consideration of regulatory/policy environment
• Examination of the role that private sector and NGO’s have in
addressing disaster management and the use of
telecommunications/ICTs
• Examination of how telecommunications/ICTs can be integrated
into disaster management plans or frameworks, including
considerations of telecommunications outside plant
Cooperation and Collaboration
• ITU-D Q-22-1/2 cooperates and collaborates with other entities
to leverage existing technical resources and expertise and
ongoing initiatives to benefit developing countries:
• ITU-Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R)
• ITU-Standardization Sector (ITU-T)
• Regional Organizations (APT, CITEL, ATU)
• UN Organizations
Expected Outputs
• Case studies from member states and sector members
• Best Practices/Guidelines on establishing National or Regional
Disaster Communications Management Plans or Frameworks
• Updated Handbook on Emergency Telecommunications and Online
Toolkit with links to information resources and organizations
• Handbook on Telecommunication outside plant in areas frequently
exposed to natural disasters
What you can do!
• Participate in the next meeting of ITU-D SG 2:
• September 17-21, 2012
• Submit contributions to the meeting: Case Studies, Descriptions
of Technical Solutions, Information about National or Regional
Disaster Communications Plans
• Join the Correspondence Groups for the Handbooks (Emergency
Telecom/Online Toolkit and Outside Plant)
Questions?
Thank you.
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